Adrian didn't wait for things to change on their own.
That was new.
Before, he used to just accept things. Stay quiet. Do what he was told.
Now, he was starting to try.
Even if he didn't know how.
—
The next morning, he got ready earlier than usual.
When he came downstairs, only Alessio was there.
Alessio looked up.
"You're early."
Adrian nodded.
"…Yeah."
He stood there for a moment.
Then he walked over and sat beside him.
Not across the table.
Beside him.
Alessio noticed but didn't say anything.
Adrian picked at his food for a few seconds before speaking.
"…Do you want to walk in together at school?"
Alessio blinked.
"We already do."
Adrian shook his head.
"I mean… together."
Alessio understood.
He gave a small nod.
"Yeah. We can do that."
Adrian nodded back.
"…Okay."
That was it.
But it felt like progress.
—
At school, Adrian didn't stay behind this time.
When they got out of the car, he walked next to Alessio.
Not a step behind.
Not looking at the ground.
Just… next to him.
Some students noticed.
They always did.
But Adrian didn't look away like before.
Inside the classroom, things went as usual.
Reading.
Writing.
Listening.
Adrian still struggled, but he didn't stop.
When he didn't understand something, he raised his hand.
That was also new.
At first, his voice was quiet.
But the teacher heard him.
And she answered.
No one laughed.
That helped.
—
At lunch, Alessio sat with his friends again.
This time, Adrian spoke more.
Not a lot.
But more than before.
Someone asked him a simple question.
"What do you like doing?"
Adrian paused.
He had never really thought about that.
"…Reading," he said.
It felt like a safe answer.
The others nodded.
"That's good," one of them said.
"Better than homework."
Adrian almost smiled.
—
After school, they walked to the car together.
Adrian spoke first.
"…I think I'm getting better."
Alessio looked at him.
"You are."
Adrian shrugged.
"I still don't understand a lot."
"That's normal."
Adrian nodded.
"…But I want to learn faster."
Alessio shook his head.
"You don't have to rush."
Adrian didn't agree.
But he didn't argue either.
—
When they got home, Adrian didn't go straight to his room.
He stayed in the living room.
Marco and Dante were there.
Dante looked up.
"You're not hiding today?"
Adrian sat down on the couch.
"…I wasn't hiding."
Dante smirked.
"Sure."
Adrian didn't respond.
Marco closed the file he was reading.
"How was school?"
"…Okay."
"Just okay?"
Adrian thought for a moment.
"…Better than yesterday."
Marco nodded.
"That's good."
Adrian hesitated.
Then he asked something.
"…Did I use to sit here?"
Dante raised an eyebrow.
"Here?"
"In this room."
Marco answered.
"Yeah."
Adrian looked around.
"…I don't remember."
"That's fine," Marco said.
Adrian nodded slowly.
"…I'm trying to."
Dante leaned back.
"Don't force it."
Adrian looked at him.
"I'm not forcing it."
"Then what are you doing?"
Adrian thought about it.
"…I'm trying to get used to things."
Dante didn't reply.
But he didn't tease him either.
—
Later, Adrian went to his room.
He opened his notebook again.
This time, he wrote more.
Alessio
Marco
Dante
Nico
He stared at the names.
Then he added one more.
Me
He paused.
Then crossed it out.
And wrote again.
Adrian
He looked at it for a long time.
"…That's me."
It still felt strange sometimes.
But less than before.
—
A knock came at the door.
Adrian didn't look up.
"…Come in."
Alessio walked in again.
He looked at the notebook.
"You're doing that again?"
Adrian nodded.
"…It helps."
"With what?"
"Remembering."
Alessio stepped closer.
"You don't have to write our names to remember us."
Adrian shook his head.
"I know."
He tapped the page.
"But this makes it real."
Alessio didn't argue.
He just nodded.
"…Okay."
Adrian looked at him.
"…Do you want to help me?"
Alessio raised an eyebrow.
"With what?"
Adrian turned the notebook around.
"Tell me things."
"Like what?"
Adrian shrugged.
"…Anything."
Alessio thought for a moment.
Then he sat down on the chair.
"Okay."
Adrian held the pencil ready.
"You used to hate waking up early."
Adrian wrote it down.
"You liked sweets more than anything."
He wrote again.
"You followed me everywhere."
Adrian paused at that.
Then wrote it slowly.
Alessio watched him.
"…You don't have to write everything."
Adrian didn't look up.
"I want to."
Alessio nodded.
Then he added one more thing.
"You trusted me the most."
Adrian stopped writing.
His hand froze slightly.
"…I did?"
Alessio nodded.
"Yeah."
Adrian looked down at the page.
Then slowly wrote it.
But his handwriting was less steady this time.
"…I don't feel that yet," Adrian said.
"I know."
Adrian closed the notebook.
"…But I want to."
Alessio didn't smile.
He just said,
"That's enough."
—
That night, Adrian went to bed earlier.
He didn't wait for the dream.
But when he fell asleep, it came anyway.
The same place.
The garden.
Sunlight.
Laughter.
This time, he didn't stay still.
He moved.
He walked forward.
The voice came again.
"Adrian!"
He turned.
Faster this time.
Closer.
The face started to show—
But not fully.
Just enough.
Dark hair.
Familiar eyes.
Adrian's heart started beating faster.
"…Alessio?"
The dream stopped.
Adrian woke up immediately.
His breathing was uneven.
But this time, he didn't feel confused.
He sat up slowly.
"…It was him."
Not clear.
Not complete.
But enough to know.
Adrian looked at his hands.
"…I'm remembering."
And for the first time—
He felt sure of it.